Brewing a perfect partnership

Camerons Brewery and Teesside University have forged a unique partnership to help the company improve its energy efficiency

Graduate Martin Howes has joined Camerons Brewery as part of a Knowledge Exchange Internship, (KEI), and will be working to analyse and review its energy usage.

KEIs provide talented graduates with internships of up to twelve months in companies looking to solve a particular problem or to implement a new system or process. They are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

As well as the graduate input, companies also receive academic support from experts at Teesside University, which in this instance has come from Garry Evans, Project Manager-Sustainable Technologies Project Team (CLEMANCE).

Camerons General Manager and Director Christopher Soley said: 'Camerons Brewery is delighted to have partnered up with Teesside University’s Knowledge Exchange Internship. The KEI programme has provided us with the opportunity of recruiting Martin Howes into our business along with the academic support needed to fulfil the practical role he is involved in.

'Our Energy Management Co-ordinator role is aimed at analysing the usage of energy throughout the site with the objective of embedding best energy management practice and identifying opportunities to reduce our consumption and improve our environmental performance.

'The support of Teesside University provides the additional benefits of technical and academic knowledge which will help both Camerons to fulfil its objectives, and Martin to bridge the gap from university to industry.'

Applying skills and knowledge Martin, who graduated earlier this year after studying geography at Lancaster University, is looking forward to using the knowledge and skills he obtained in his studies in a real work environment.

He said: 'This KEI is a fantastic opportunity for me to jump straight into tackling efficiency in an energy intensive industry. The support from Teesside University is invaluable to Camerons and myself in steering this process. After just a few weeks, the potential to make important improvements here is already clear to me. I am looking forward to harnessing the expertise at Teesside University’s Clean Environment Management Centre (CLEMANCE) and delivering savings for the brewery.

'My interest in the obligations and practicalities of effective energy management has been fostered by voluntary work reducing the energy consumption and bills of vulnerable people.'

Emma Detchon, Senior Business Development Manager at Teesside University, added: 'We know from experience that this type of intensive input works for both the company and the graduate. A KEI is ideal for a company needing expert help with a short-term project, perhaps to introduce new technology or new working practices. As well as a full-time graduate on the staff, the company gets academic support to deliver its improvement programme.'

The Graduate Recruitment & Placements for SMEs project is part financed by the North East European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs.

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